Week 3 of the South Dakota State Legislature in Pierre is now in the books. Transgender issues, abortion, open fields, and marijuana all made the news this week. Here’s a look at a few of the lesser quotable lines found in our reporter notebook this week:
Good question. HB1076 aka the ‘transgender birth certificate’ bill got week 3 off with a bang early Monday morning. The bill appeared to be sailing through committee until State Medical Association lobbyist and former lawmaker Dean Krogman stood to testify. Krogman then unleashed on the committee and the bills prime sponsor, Florence Republican Fred Deutsch, for not having brought any health professionals into the discussion. Krogman said he, like most people in the state, was as, ‘pro-life as anyone’ but asked the committee, “How much more pro-life do we need to be?” HB1076 failed in committee but was later smoked out and passed the House floor.
Squirrel Soup. The legislative process is often described as ‘making sausage’ but Dist. 21 Tripp Republican Caleb Finck says he prefers squirrel soup. A pair of hunting bills made their way through the House on Monday during which time Finck channeled his inner Forest Gump describing all the ways in which squirrels could be prepared for consumption. His favorite? Squirrel soup.
Prodigal Son. Mission Democrat Sen. Troy Heinert didn’t plan to testify on the floor Wednesday regarding SB29, a commercial drivers license bill, but it was personal to him. He said his son had a commercial drivers license and the issue mattered to his family. The minority leader then told the Senate that he knew his son was registered to vote, but wasn’t sure if his son had voted for him. There’s still time for the two to work it out, SB29 was deferred for Senate debate until February 1st.
Concealed carry. Firearms bills are a perennial favorite in the legislature, but the 96th session so far seems to have fewer than in recent years. When asked on background, one lawmaker told this reporter not to worry, there’s always a ‘hog house.’ In legislative terms, a ‘hog house’ is a bill that can be gutted and entirely new language inserted. Fire away.
Making a name for himself. Democrat Senator Reynold Nesiba of Sioux Falls has never shied away from the press, but he’s been a bit more out front this year than in the past. Part of that comes from his new role as Assistant Senate Minority Leader, but there might be more to it. His open attacks calling out Republican Governor Kristi Noem for what he says is her ‘startling lack of leadership’ has some speculating he’s posturing for a run for Governor himself. Regardless of who Democrats advance to challenge Noem, expect leadership and transparency to be key talking points in the lead up to 2022.
On the cover of the Rolling Stone. Legislative press conferences during session can get to be a bit routine; the same people sit in the same chairs and often ask the same questions. So when a reporter for Rolling Stone magazine showed up Thursday in Pierre, it caught even the callous capitol press corps attention. Stephen Rodrick is a contributing editor to Rolling Stone magazine and attended Thursday’s legislative press conferences. He appeared clearly amused, visible even through the mask he was wearing, when Governor Kristi Noem addressed the Amendment ‘A’ marijuana lawsuit. Noem told reporters she had ‘never met anyone who got smarter smoking marijuana,’ a comment that drew a slight chuckle from Rodrick.
Legislative Week 4 begins Monday, February 1 and continues through Thursday, March 11, 2021 in Pierre.
